Pickering council must approve draft grants policy

Formalizing the process by which local groups receive funding and other assistance from the City will create a level playing field and consistency.

After all, fairness and a set criteria for evaluating requests should be the basis upon which community groups' requests are evaluated.

Pickering council members on Monday had a look at a report and draft policy created by staff. Councillors last year called for the report to review how grants and the use of facilities are distributed to community associations. And the goal from day one was to provide a more balanced approach.

As Councillor Jennifer O'Connell noted at the meeting, the City at present does not have a standardized policy on which staff and councillors can rely.

It has led to a piecemeal approach, something that should be avoided, especially when we're talking about not-for-profit groups that do so much to enhance the lives of Pickering residents.

The report has several recommendations, many related to formalizing lease and facility agreements between Pickering and the many groups. It's almost unfathomable to consider that some of the groups have verbal agreements with the City. There was a time when a handshake sealed a deal, but it is long past and the report's recommendation that agreements be in writing is of course eminently sensible.

A key part of the overhaul would be a new community grant policy, which would require community groups to submit an application for financial support. Grants would only be available to community associations, service clubs or sports groups that are not-for-profit, serve in whole or in part the residents of Pickering and has at least 80 per cent of its members living in the city.

The application is an obvious starting point, enabling City staff to weed out ineligible applicants right at the start of the process. It's also a time-saver for staff and council alike, as the latter in some cases won't have to hear a presentation from an ineligible group, have staff look into the request and so on. Again, a level playing field is what's required and the application is a big part of that.

As for who's eligible, the criteria of not-for-profit local groups mostly made up of Pickering residents serving other Pickering residents is on the mark.

The report recommends that the Pickering East Shore Community Association be given free meeting room space, but nothing else. However it recommends all other groups maintain their current funding or lease agreements with the City.

That had PESCA president Keith Falconer crying foul at the meeting, charging the group was being singled out.

We can only reiterate that all groups need to be treated in the same manner.

Pickering council must approve this draft policy at its April 22 meeting.